Protective device for electric circuits.



G. H. WHITTINGHAM & W. T. HOLMES.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. m5.

1,294,213. I Patented Feb. 11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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G. H. WHITTINGHAM &'W. T. HOLMES.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR memo cmcuns.

' APPLICATION FILEDO C,T.15.1915.

1,294,213. Patented Feb.11,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. H; WHITTINGHAM & W. T. HOLMES.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1915.

1,294,213. 4 Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT o ruoE.

GEORGE H. WHITTINGHAM, OF BANCROFT PARK, MARYLAND, AND WILLIAM T. HOLMES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ,ASSIGNORS TO MONITOR CONTROLLER COMPANY, OF IBALTIMORE,.MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYIiAND..

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. WHIT- TINGHAM and WILLIAM T. HOLMES, citizens of the United States, residing at Bancroft Park, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, and Baltimore, inthe State of Maryland, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prote'ctive Devices for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protective devices for electric circuits, and its object is to automatically vary the sensitiveness of such a device a predetermined time after the closing of the circuit in which it is included.

More specifically the object of the invention is to produce a protective device or overload relay adapted for use in electric motor circuits, and to provide means for im creasing the sensitiveness of such relay after the lapse of sufficient time to permit the initial rush of starting current to subside. .By this means the device is unresponsive to the usual starting current, but becomes operative immediatelv after the expiration of 1 the normal period of acceleration to effectively protect the motor against injury by overload. 1

In carryingout the invention, we provide means for varying the magnetic relation of the parts of the relay to increase its sensitiveness, as described. We also make provision for adjustably determining in advance the degree of sensitiveness which will be finally attained.

While in its broader aspects many features of the invention are capable of general application, the apparatus is especially designed for use in connection with alternating current motors of the polyphase type.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one embodiment of our invention as applied toa 3-phase motor circuit;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the de- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 11, 1919.

Application m October 15, 1915. Serial No. 56,011.

through such relay, parts being in elevation; and g Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a somewhat different arrangement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and

particularly to Fig. 1, S represents *a threepole line switch of any desired construction,

and to this switch are connected the three leads 1, 2, and 3, through which 3-phasescribed. This switch comprises a bar 8, on

which the contacts 6 and? are mounted and from which they are insulated. The bar 8 is carried by the plunger 14 of a solenoid 15, by means of which the switch is actuated. The switch contacts 6 and 7 are connected by flexible leads 9 to conductors 10 and 12, respectively, which extend to the motor. Included in the conductors 10 and 12 are sole: noid windings 11 and 13, respectively, these solenoids constituting parts of our improved protective device which we shall refer to as an overload relay.

In order to close the main switch above described, we connect one end of the solenoid 15 to one of the main motor leads, such, for example, as the lead 1, by means of a Wire 16, a manual pilot switch 17 .of the momentary contact type being interposed.

The same end of the solenoid winding is also connected by the wire 18 to a contact 19, adapted to be engaged by an insulated contact 20, carried by the switch n1ember8 and.

cuit breakers or auxiliary switches controlled by the overload. relay. These switches preferably consist of disks 26 and 27, resting upon and bridging suitable contacts. The disk 26 bridges con-" 'tacts 24:, while the disk 27 bridges contacts I so i 22. The wire 21cl intects with one contact 22, while the other} contact 22 is connected by a wire 23 with one of the contacts 2 1, the

other contact 24 being connected to the lead 11 and 13 into a dashpot D. Referring'to Fig. 2, it will be seenthat this dashpot contains a piston .32, .whichis carried by the 7. rod 31, such piston being provided with the I the cross bar34 project.

, bars42, each of the stelns' 28 and29- is surrounded by alight helical spring 43, resting position of the block 49,2they will belifted' Y t its lower endion across-pin .44. It will by any current in excess ofthat for-which. be seen that the springs 43 tend tohold the the device has been When so lifted, -ther.-

disks'in engagement with their respective cores. will impinge against the. ends of the,

' fromthe bracket 40 and provided with open spective contacts, thereby interrupting the If.

- The lower usual valve 33, :for checking'the passage of fluid in one direction and thus retarding the upward movement of the piston and rod 31. A liquid such as oil or glycerin. is used'in the dashpoti I Secured to the'rod 31', above the dashpot, is across bar 34, upon which loosely rest the lower endsof cores'35 and 36, of magnetic material, cooperating respectively with the solenoid coils 11 and .13.

Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3, it"will at one end the rod 31 and associatedparts.

justable over this scale isa block 49, secured to .the rod 31 by means of 'a suitable set screw. This block may be clamped to the also adjugstablymountedon the rod 31, above the shelf 45, and is adapted to engage; such rod at any desired scale division, thus setshelf to limit the downward movement of solenoid 15, wire 21-, contacts-22 and switch noid 15 overthe'following'circuit: wire.16',

. is The operation of our improved protectivev devices will now be described. Inforder to start the motor, the push button .17 is mo-' 27, wire 23, contacts 24- and switch 26, wire I I 25, to the lead-2 This causes the core 14 to L be drawn up, thus bringing the contacts 6, 7, 3 and 20 into engagement with the contacts {1,- 1 5, and '19, respectivelyflThe mam motorcircuit is thus closed throughthe conductors.

l 10 and 12, the third cond'uctor 2 being per-' i m'anently connected with the'switch S. The

energization off solenoid 15 is now maintained through contacts 19 and-20. and wire \switch orpush button 17 \18, after the pilot or 24. Each of the pairs of contacts 22' and 24 is spanned bya-bar 42, of insulating solenoid cores 35 and36fare so far out ofth'e" 1 r material, such as hard fiber, and these bars "solenoids that the usual rush of starting have openings through which'thestems28 current is not sufiicient-to lift them. When; and 29 of the switch disks pass. Below the however, they have been projected, into the solenoids 'to an extent determined bythe be seen thatthese cores are in'practice pref- 'has been releas d,

"erably contained within brass tubes 37 and. The upward'movement of the switch bar 38 and are capable of sliding freely In such- 8 puts the spring 30. under tension and this causes the rod 31and associated'parts to tubes. The tubes'are provided with longitudinal slots 39, through which the ends of begin a slowupward movement, retarded ably carried-by a' suitable bracket 10, having tion, which position islimited by the enat its upper enda plurality of spaced arms, gagement of the block (4:9"W1llh the under v by the dashpot. Aftera predetermined All of the parts of-the relay are prefertime these parts will-reach their'final posi- 10 11,.adapted to support the contacts 22 and side of shelf 45. When in their final posi- 21.33011 of the contacts 22 and 2 1' is,.of tion the cores 35 and 36 will have been pro- I course, insulated from its respective arm 41, p by means of. a suitable bushing such as 22 respective solenoids 11 and 13.

ected to a certain definite extent into their In theinitial positionfof the parts, the 1 contacts. The solenoids 11 and 13 aresu pstems 28-29 and thus lift the switch'disks.

ported by 'meansof a shelf 45-, extending 26 'and 27 from engagementwith theirre ings 45 through whih' the-stems 28and 29 circuit of'solenoid 15 and permitting the freely pass, thus serving as guides for such 'main switch to fall open by gravity.

ends of the tubes are held 111 a shelf 46,'carried by the bracket means for increasmg the. sensitiveness vof 40, which shelf is provided withacentral the relay 3, predeterminedtime after the boss or enlargement 47, into which the upmotor circuit has been closed, thus allowing asuflicientlapse of timefor the initial rush Just .b ow the point. where it passes of starting current "to subside, and yet pro-" through the shelf45, the rod 31 is'provided *viding means for automatically opening-the with a scale48 bearing numbers correspond; circuit in case of a subsequent excessive over per edge of the dashpot 'D is secured.

ingwith current values in amperes.- Adload; It will be also noted that;thisaxi'ncreased sensitiveness is due to a change in the magnetic relation of the parts of the relay, the cores being moved farther within the influence of the solenoids. The degree of sensitiveness finally attained is determined by the position oft-he block 49 on the scale 48, it being thus possible to set the relay to operate at diflerent current values as desired. By providing an overload coil and switch in each of aplurality of the motor leads, protection is alforded against short-circuit. or overload occurring in one phase of the circuit but not another, as sometimes happens. In other words, excessive current in any of the three phases will cause the tripping of the main switch and the opening of the motor circuit.

It will be understood that while the device is usually so set that it does not respond to I any ordinary starting current, still it is possible to so adjust the position of the block 50 as to cause the operation of the relay by an excessive or unusual starting current, such, for example, as might be caused by a completeshort circuit. In other words, the block 50 may be adjusted so as to permit a normal starting of the motor but to open the circuit in case of a danger ously excessive startings current.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is generally similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1,

and the same reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts. In

this case, we have shown'one side of the solenoid 15 connected to the wire 16 as in Fig. 1, and the other side connected through wire's21 and "25 with the lead 3 of the motor, I

served that the sensitiveness of the overthe switch contacts 22 and 24 being interposed. v

A rod 51, corresponding to the rod 31 in Fig. 1, is connected to the lower end of the spring 30 and cooperates with the dashpot D. In this case, however, the rod 51 has secured near itsupper end a weighted collar 52. This collar is arranged to engage the curved ends 53 and 54 of levers 55 and 56, pivoted at 57 and 58 and provided with slots 59 and 60 adjacent their outer ends. In the V Y slots 59 and 60, work cross-pins 61 and 62,;

carried by rods .63 and 64 working freelythrough brackets 65 and 66. The'rods 63 and 64 are provided with enlarged heads adapted to engage the brackets 65- and 66 to limit the downward movement of the rods, and these rods terminate at their lower ends in screw threaded stems 67 and 68, respectively. These stems enter screw-threaded 'sockets in cores 69 and 70 of magnetic material, which are associated with the Solenoids 11 and 13, respectively. These cores 69 and 70 are adjustable on the screwthreaded stemsj67 and 68 and can be held in adjusted position by means of lock nuts 71 and 72 The cores 69 and 70'are provided with scales 7 3 and 74, by means of which the degree of adjustment can be determined. These scales coeperate with the upper edges of the spools on which the coils 11 and 13 are wound.

I In the lower ends of the solenoids 11 and 12 are mounteda second pair of cores 75 and 76, which carry switch disks 77 and v7 8, co operating with contacts 22 and 24, respectively.

The operation is as follows; The air gap between the cores 69 and 75 and 70 and 76, respectively, is so great that the ordinary starting current through solenoids 11 and 13 is not suflicient to pick up the cores 75 and 76. The closing of the main switch, however, puts spring 30 under tension, which spring gradually pulls up the rod 51 as permitted by the dash-pot, thus projecting the cores 69 and 70 farther into the solenoids 11 and 13. In their final position, as determined by the engagement of the heads of the rods 63 and 64 with the brackets 65 and 66, the cores 69 and 70 are inserted in their respective solenoids to an extent indicated by the scale carried by each core. When so inserted, it

wvill be seen that the air gap between the respective pairs of cores has been decreased to such an extent that a current through the scale, will cause either or both of the cores 75 or 76 to pick up, thus opening the cirsolenoids of the strength indicated by the cuit of solenoid 15 and tripping the main tiveness is due to a'change in the magneticrelation of the parts of the device caused by a shifting of such parts. In this case, also,

the final degree of sensitiveness atta'ined' maybe adjustedand pre-set as desired.

What we claim is: 1 1. The combination with a switch, of electromagnetic operating means therefor, an

overload relay controllingthe circuit of said electromagnetic operating means, and means mechanically connected with and actuated by the movement of said switch for varying the sensitiveness of said relay a predetermined time after said switchis closed.

2. The combination witha switch, of electromagnetic operating means therefor, an

overload relay controlling the circuit of said electromagnetic operating means, means mechanically connected with and actuated by said switch when closed, tending to move a part of said relay into a position to increase the sensitiveness thereof, and means for re tarding such movement.

-. 3. The combination with a switch, of electromagnetic operating means therefor, an

overload relay controlling the circuit of said electromagnetic operating spring connected with said. swltch and put under tension by the closing thereof, said spring serving, when under tension, to move apart of said relay'to a position to increase V of electromagnetic operating means there v for, a manual pilot switch-of the :momen tary contact type for closing the circuitiof said electromagnetic. operating means, said the sensitiveness thereofi and means forre- 7 10 Wm tarding such movement.

4. vThe combination with a main 7 switch,

main switch having meansto maintain the said c1rcu1t closed, an overload relay for openingsald-circult, and means mechanically connected with and actuatedby said main switch for varying. the sensitiveness of c said relay a predetermined time after the closing of said main switch.-

5. In a motor control system, the combination with a switch controlling the main cir-' ciiit of the motor, of an overload-relay in said r circuit, means mechanicallyconnected s with and operatedby the closing ofsaid switch tendingtovary the magneticvrela- I tion ofthe parts of said relay to increase its sensltlveness, and means, for retarding the movement of said .first mentioned meansmeans, a

during the normal period of acceleration of the motor.

6. In a motor control system, the com-- bination withja, switch controlling the m "n v circuit of the Iriotor, of an overload relay 1nsaid circuit, means mechanically operated by the closing of said-switch for "producing c a relative movement of the parts-of. said a relay to increase its sensitiveness, and means 40 for preventing the completion of suchmovement-juntil after the laps of suflicient" time after the switch is closed to permit f I the initial rush of starting current to's'ub s s a 7 In, a control system'for polyphase electric' motors, thecombinationwith a switch controlling the. supply of current to1the] motor, of a plurality of overload relays," each in a' diflerent phase of the motor cire chit, means mechanicall connected .withand operated by the'closmg of said switch for s im'ultaneously increasing the sensitivemess of all of said relays after said switch 

